Palakkad district facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Palakkad Palghat District
District
Clockwise from top: Palakkad Fort, Ottapalam town, Alathur town, Malampuzha Dam Water Canal, Pattambi town, Palakkad city
Nickname(s):  The Granary of Kerala
Location in Kerala
Country	India
State	Kerala
Region	South Malabar
Headquarters	Palakkad
Area
• Total	4,482 km2 (1,731 sq mi)
Area rank	2nd
Highest elevation (Anginda peak)	2,383 m (7,818 ft)
Population  (2018)
• Total	2,952,254
• Rank	5
• Density	659/km2 (1,710/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
• Regional	93.7% Malayalam 4.8% Tamil 1.5% Others
Religions
• Religion (2011)	66.8% Hinduism 28.9% Islam 4.1% Christianity 0.2% Others
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
ISO 3166 code	IN-KL-PKD
Vehicle registration	KL-09 Palakkad, KL-49 Alathur, KL-50 Mannarkkad, KL-51 Ottappalam, KL-52 Pattambi, KL-70 Chittur-Thathamangalam
HDI (2005)	0.761 ( High)
Literacy	89.31%

Palakkad is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala. It was created on January 1, 1957. This district is in the central part of Kerala and is the second largest district in the state. The main city and headquarters of the district is also called Palakkad.

Palakkad is often called "The Granary of Kerala" because it grows a lot of rice. It is also known as the "gateway to Kerala" due to the Palakkad Gap. This is a natural pass in the Western Ghats mountains. The highest point in Palakkad district is Anginda peak, which is 2,383 meters high. It is located in the Silent Valley National Park.

The district covers an area of 4,480 square kilometers. About 1,360 square kilometers of this land is covered by forests. Most of Palakkad is a midland region, with elevations between 75 and 250 meters. Some parts, like Nelliampathy and Attappadi, are hilly and higher than 250 meters. The Attappadi valley is known for natural gold fields.

The weather in Palakkad is nice for most of the year, except during summer. It gets plenty of rain, even more than some southern districts of Kerala. Many rivers flow through Palakkad, and they are branches of the Bharathapuzha River. There are also several dams, with the Malampuzha dam being the largest. The Parambikulam Dam has the largest water storage capacity.

Palakkad district has seven main towns called municipalities. The largest city is Palakkad. Other municipalities include Ottapalam, Shornur, Chittur-Tattamangalam, Pattambi, Cherpulassery, and Mannarkkad. About 24% of the district's population lives in these urban areas.

What's in a Name? The Story of Palakkad

In the past, Palakkad was also known as Palakkattussery. Many people think the name Palakkad comes from 'Pala', which is a type of tree. These trees used to grow thickly in the area. So, Palakkad might mean "the forest of Pala trees."

Some others believe the name comes from the ancient Jain Temple in the town. They think it relates to the sacred language called Pali. In 1757, the ruler of Palakkad asked for help from Hyder Ali of Mysore to stop an invasion. Later, Hyder Ali's son, Tipu sultan, became the ruler.

Before India became independent, the area that is now Kerala was divided. It included parts of British India and two princely states. In 1921, the first big meeting of the Indian National Congress in Kerala happened in Ottapalam. This meeting asked for a separate state for people who spoke Malayalam. Ottapalam is right in the middle of Kerala.

Palakkad's Past: A Journey Through History

The area around Coimbatore was ruled by the Chera dynasty a long time ago. This was between the first and fourth centuries CE. It was an important eastern entrance to the Palakkad Gap. This gap was a main trade route between the Malabar Coast and Tamil Nadu.

The city of Palakkad was ruled by the Palakkad Rajas. Their original home was in Athavanad. It is said they traded their lands there for the Palakkad and Chittur areas.

Other parts of the district, like Pattambi and Ottapalam, were ruled by the Zamorin of Calicut. The Mannarkkad area was part of the Kingdom of Valluvanad, which the Zamorin also took over later.

In 1757, the Palakkad Raja asked Hyder Ali of Mysore for help against the Zamorin of Kozhikode. In 1766, Hyder Ali defeated the Zamorin. He then rebuilt the Palakkad Fort. Hyder Ali and his son, Tipu Sultan, brought many smaller kingdoms in Kerala under their rule. They became part of the larger Kingdom of Mysore.

Malabar District in 1951

Tipu Sultan fought against the British East India Company. After some wars, he gave the Malabar District to the British in the 1790s. Palakkad was under British rule until India became independent in 1947.

The municipality of Palakkad was formed on November 1, 1866. This made it one of the first modern towns in what is now Kerala.

The present-day Palakkad district was part of the Malabar District before it was formed. In 1956, when the state of Kerala was created, parts of the old Malabar District were used to form Palakkad district. Later, some areas were moved to form Malappuram district. Also, the Silent Valley National Park was moved to Palakkad district.

How Palakkad is Governed

Kerala Legislative Assembly Seats

Legislative Assembly constituencies with their limits

Palakkad district has 12 seats in the Kerala Legislative Assembly. These are the representatives who make laws for the state.

Members of Lok Sabha (Parliament)

Palakkad district has members in the Lok Sabha, which is the lower house of India's Parliament.

Subdistricts (Taluks) of Palakkad

Taluks of Palakkad

The district is divided into smaller areas called Taluks or subdistricts. These help manage the local areas. The main office for the District Panchayat (local government) is in Palakkad town.

Palakkad's Economy: A Hub of Activity

Stadium bypass, developing brand street

Growing Skyline of Palakkad city

Upcoming Shopping Mall in Kanjikode

Palakkad is important for the economy because of the Palakkad Gap and its closeness to Coimbatore. The city of Palakkad is a major industrial area in Kerala.

The Kanjikode area in Palakkad is the second largest industrial hub in Kerala, after Kochi. Many big companies have factories here. These include Indian Telephone Industries Limited (ITI), Pepsi, and Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML).

Palakkad City is also growing fast in business. New shops, restaurants, hotels, and shopping centers are opening. Many new homes, like villas and apartments, are also being built in and around the city.

Getting Around: Transport in Palakkad

Palakkad Junction Railway Station

KSRTC Bus terminal, Palakkad

Shoranur Junction railway station

A view of the railway bridge over the river Bharathappuzha at Shoranur

Air Travel

The closest international airport is Coimbatore International Airport, about 62 kilometers from Palakkad. Cochin International Airport and Calicut International Airport also serve the city. There is a plan to build a small domestic airport in East Yakkara, Palakkad.

Train Travel

The Palakkad railway division is a part of the Southern Railway zone. It manages train tracks in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Mahe. It is one of the oldest railway divisions in India.

Major train stations in this division include Palakkad Junction and Shoranur Junction. Palakkad Junction is about 4 km from the city center. Palakkad Town railway station is right in the heart of the city.

Shoranur Junction railway station is the largest railway station in Kerala. It connects the southwestern coast of India with the southeastern coast. It is also where three important railway lines meet.

Road Travel

Palakkad has a good network of roads. National Highway 544 passes through the city's outskirts. This highway connects Salem to Kochi. National Highway 966 starts from Palakkad and connects to another major highway near Kozhikode.

Palakkad City has four bus stations. These include the KSRTC Terminal and three private bus stands. The KSRTC depot in Palakkad is the only one in the district.

People of Palakkad: Population and Languages

In 2018, Palakkad district had a population of about 2,952,254 people. This is similar to the population of the country of Armenia. It ranks 138th in population among all districts in India.

The district has 659 people per square kilometer. Between 2001 and 2011, the population grew by 7.39%. For every 1000 males, there are 1067 females in Palakkad.

The literacy rate (people who can read and write) in Palakkad district is 89.49%. This is the lowest in Kerala. About 14.37% of the population belongs to Scheduled Castes and 1.74% to Scheduled Tribes. Palakkad has the largest percentage of Scheduled Castes in Kerala.

Languages Spoken in Palakkad

Languages of Palakkad district (2011)      Malayalam (93.71%)     Tamil (4.82%)     Others (1.47%)

Most people in Palakkad speak Malayalam as their first language (93.71%). About 4.82% speak Tamil. Other languages like Irula and Kurumba are also spoken by smaller groups. Malayalam is the official language and is widely used.

Fun Places to Visit: Tourist Attractions in Palakkad

Varikkasseri Mana-one of the oldest traditional Namboothiri family houses (illam) in Kerala

Malampuzha Dam Entrance

Pothundi Dam constructed in 19th century (British period), is one of the oldest dams in India

Silent Valley National Park

Nelliampathi mountains

Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary

Palakkad has many beautiful places to visit. Here are some of them:

• Attappadi Reserve Forest
• Dhoni Waterfalls
• Elivai Mala
• Fantasy Park
• Kanjirapuzha Dam
• Kannimara Teak (a very old and large teak tree)
• Karimpuzha Kovilakam
• Kollengode
• Malampuzha Dam
• Malampuzha Garden
• Mampara peak (Raja's cliff)
• Mangalam Dam
• Meenvallam Waterfalls
• Meenkara Dam
• Nelliampathi hill station
• Palakkad Fort
• Parambikulam Dam
• Parambikulam Tiger Reserve
• Pothundi Dam
• Silent Valley National Park
• Siruvani Dam
• Siruvani Waterfalls
• Varikkasseri Mana
• Walayar Dam
• Sekharipuram

Silent Valley National Park: A Natural Wonder

This park is located in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It is known for its rich variety of plants and animals. Nearby areas include Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary and Mukurthi National Park. Two important rivers, Bhavani River and Kunthipuzha River, start near Silent Valley. The Kadalundi River also begins here.

View of the Western Ghats Mountain Range from Mangalam Dam Reservoir

Famous People from Palakkad

Learning in Palakkad: Educational Institutions

Government Victoria College, Palakkad

Indian Institute of Technology, Palakkad

NSS College of Engineering, Palakkad

B. E. M. Higher Secondary School, Palakkad

Palakkad district is an important center for education in Kerala. It has many well-known schools and colleges. The district is home to the only Indian Institute of Technology in Kerala.

Palakkad district has three educational areas: Palakkad, Ottappalam, and Mannarkkad. Some of the important educational institutions include:

• Government Victoria College, Palakkad, which was started in 1866 and is one of the oldest colleges.
• Government Medical College, Palakkad, the first government medical college in the district.
• NSS College of Engineering, one of the first engineering colleges in Kerala.
• Chembai Memorial Government Music College, a great place to learn Carnatic music.
• Mercy College, Palakkad, a college for women.

News and Entertainment: Media in Palakkad

Major Malayalam newspapers like Malayala Manorama and Mathrubhumi have printing centers in Palakkad city. There are also local news channels. The Palakkad Press Club is located on Robinson road.

A private FM radio station operates in Palakkad. People have been asking for a government FM station for a long time. The city has 8 movie theaters that show Malayalam, English, Tamil, and Hindi movies. More multiplex screens are being built.

Sports in Palakkad

Palakkad has produced some great athletes. The Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium in the city center was once used for big sports events. However, it needs repairs now. There is a plan to fix it up with modern facilities.

The city also has Fort Maidan, also known as Kota Maidanam. This is a multi-use stadium in the city center. It is mostly used for cricket matches. Fort Maidan can hold up to 10,000 people. In 2003, the Ranji Trophy cricket tournament was played here.

There is also an Indoor Stadium near Government Victoria College, Palakkad. It is a large building but is still not fully finished. A new running track with eight lanes is available at the Government Medical College, Palakkad.

Important Towns in Palakkad District

Ottapalam town

Pattambi Town

Vadakkencherry Town

Alathur Town

Here are some of the main towns in Palakkad District:

• Palakkad
• Ottappalam
• Pattambi
• Mannarkkad
• Cherpulassery
• Kollengode
• Chittur-Thathamangalam
• Shornur
• Alathur
• Vadakkencherry
• Koduvayur
• Nemmara
• Kozhinjampara

Local Villages: Gram Panchayats in Palakkad District

Images for kids

• Satellite image of Palakkad.jpg

  Satellite image of Palakkad

• Road map of Palakkad.jpg

  Road map of Palakkad

See also

In Spanish: Distrito de Palakkad para niños